The traditional Friday menu consists of mongo and fish (paksiw, escabeche, or tinapa with salted eggs). As a concession to the younger generation, a pot of beans or a dish of pasta may replace the mongo but no meat is served as a main dish on this day.

At any rate, the budget-conscious housewife deserves a respite, if only for one day of the week, from her daily struggle to stretch her food allowance to the limit. By following tradition of serving meatless dishes on Friday, she does not have to rack her brains planning a menu that is both within her budget and acceptable to her family.

Clean the tulingan and cut into pieces of desired sizes. Remove the outer covering of the banana blossom, leaving the yellowish and tender part. Quarter it and slice crosswise. Place the fish and blossom in a saucepan with the other ingredients, except for the vinegar. Cook until the blossoms are tender. Before removing from the fire, add the vinegar.